Nigeria's top accountant, Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, told his colleagues at the Africa Accountant-Generals Conference in Accra that their gig has evolved way past just tracking numbers, and basically every public dollar they handle should actually make citizens' lives better. He said the modern financial world needs accountants acting as strategic advisors who push transparency instead of sitting in back offices doing spreadsheets.
Businessman Tony Elumelu jumped in and said Africa's real problem is a trust deficit, not a lack of resources. He argued that predictable and transparent public finance management is what brings sustainable investment to the continent.
Ogunjimi wrapped up by telling accountants they need to see themselves as economic growth catalysts who use data to handle shocks and spot opportunities across African governments.
Businessman Tony Elumelu jumped in and said Africa's real problem is a trust deficit, not a lack of resources. He argued that predictable and transparent public finance management is what brings sustainable investment to the continent.
Ogunjimi wrapped up by telling accountants they need to see themselves as economic growth catalysts who use data to handle shocks and spot opportunities across African governments.
